A few weeks back, Paul posed the question, “Which Car Would You Most Hate To Be Forced To Drive For A Year?” I’d like to turn that question on its head, because after 12-1/2 years and over 216,000 miles, I recently decided on a successor to my 2000 TDI New Beetle—which I plan to drive for at least the next ten years…

Now before I reveal my selection and why I made it, I have to give a little backstory. I’m a long-time Volkswagen owner nut, and got my first taste with a 1971 Type II Campmobile. The Bus was purchased the same day I proposed to my wife just over 25 years ago (that’s a whole ‘nother story right there). In fact, the very first article I wrote for CC was the story of The Mayfield Belle, which I used as a daily driver for the last four or five of the eight years I owned her.

The Belle was succeeded by a 1964 Type I Sedan, which I named Eeyore (as in “Oh no, another hill.”). I bought it from the son of the original owner who purchased it new in Atlanta, Georgia. It took a few weeks to get all 40 horses pulling together, and afterwards, Eeyore was my daily driver in Atlanta’s notorious rush-hour traffic (and summer heat) for the next six years.

At that point I decided I needed something with a/c and a few more horses under the hood (not to mention a few less hours per month of me under the hood). That’s where Herbie came into the picture. The TDI diesel was intriguing (diesels were not yet popular in the late ’90s/early ’00s), and I ended up getting a pretty good deal on mine—it had been on the dealer lot for several months and they were quite happy to move it at a reasonable discount from sticker (the internets were just starting to become really useful for car pricing research).

We ended up moving to the Middle West the next year, and as my new job included access to a vinyl sign cutter, creation of a Herbie tribute car was a natural next step. My relationship with Herbie has had its ups and downs—VW reliability was pretty abysmal from the late ’90s through early ’00s, and I experienced most of the common problems. Once I learned to avoid our local VW Service department (after they nearly bricked my engine with a shoddily-done timing belt replacement), things went pretty good. It helps that there’s a great online forum for DIY TDI owners (TDIClub.com), too.

Oh—in addition to the New Beetle, I had also picked up a 1962 Sunroof in Georgia which I had completely disassembled by the time we relocated. It’s slowly coming back together out in the workshop.

When this 1963 Sedan came up for sale near our farm, it, too, ended up following me home (on a tow rope) for the princely sum of $600. It’s being restored alongside the ’62—but neither of these will be daily drivers!

That brings us up-to-date and back to Herbie’s successor. As the wife currently drives an ’05 Town & Country, we’re well set when we need to haul people or loads of stuff on a long trip. For farm-related bulky or messy loads, I have a beater ’95 F-150 4WD which is the successor to the ’69 F-100 in which both I and my boys learned to drive.

Having those bases covered has generally left the selection of my work/daily driver fairly open to whatever I wanted, within reason from a budget, insurance and practicality standpoint (motorcycles and Corvettes are verboten, for example). Additionally, Beth and I both hit the mid-century mark recently, and Sons Number One and Two are nearing the point of marrying and moving out to start their own families, so we’re not far from the “empty nest” season of life, and I’m looking forward to doing a bit more traveling with Beth at that point.

As I began thinking about a replacement, I briefly toyed with the idea of a Mini, smart or Fiat 500. However, after being used to ~45mpg fuel economy, the idea of dropping back into low-mid 30mpg territory really wasn’t that palatable, and the Fiat “Sport” I test drove last year left me somewhat cold, being tinny-feeling and sluggish compared to the torquey TDI I’m used to. The USA-spec smart is a huge disappointment compared to its European brothers, which are offered with diesels that get 50+ mpg. Besides, I was leaning a little more toward something a bit roomier and more comfortable for those weekend road trips.

At the other end of the spectrum, I also ran the numbers on a full-size pickup, which would have replaced both the New Beetle and my beater farm truck. Had I gone this route, I would have ordered a 4WD diesel with manual transmission and standard cab/longbed configuration—and only the Ram 2500/3500 could be optioned out that way, to the tune of a bit over $42,000. No thanks…

I had, of course, considered another VW or even an Audi, and looked pretty closely at the TDI Jetta Sportwagen as well as the Audi A3 (not available with TDI/manual, tho). But again, neither was really “speaking to me.”

Somehow I kept returning to the recently redesigned Beetle each time I rejected a contender (surprised?), but the spy photos that had been floating around in late 2011 had always left me cold—the proportions looked all wrong and the car just looked ‘frumpy.’ But when actual Beetles started showing up at our local dealer, I began to change my mind—they looked much better in production form and especially in person. By mid-2012, I was really starting to settle in on a TDI Beetle coupe as my choice.

I started researching pricing and options, and was prepared to start the negotiation process when I happened to read a rumor that VW would be offering the upcoming 2013 Beetle Convertible with the TDI—apparently the first diesel convertible ever offered in the USA (or at least not in a very long time). Within a couple months, the rumors had been confirmed by Volkswagen itself, and I then knew for sure what my next car would be.

I spent about a month negotiating prices with several dealers and came to agreement with Sierra Motors in Ottowa, IL right before Christmas, when I placed the order for the car. It took three months for it to arrive, and we went to pick it up in late March, 2013. This car will also be called Eeyore, in honor of my ’64.

We’ve only had a few days warm enough to enjoy top-down motoring so far, but things will warm up soon enough. The car is pleasant to drive and rides like a much larger car than my New Beetle (which handles like it’s on rails in comparison). Mileage is a bit lower at around 41mpg (based on two tanks of fuel to date).

So in making my decision, I traded a good bit of utility and luggage space for the convertible feature, but my thinking is (having always wanted a convertible) that this decade of my life is probably the last time it will “make sense,” so why not? It will make a great road trip car and get exceptional fuel economy, while keeping my ~26-year run of driving Volkswagens (18 in Beetles) unbroken.

In the end, choosing my daily driver for the next ten years involved balancing different desires, tradeoffs and constraints. I’m super happy with my selection, and am looking forward to new stories yet to be written behind Eeyore’s steering wheel.

So that’s the choice that was right for me… what would you choose to drive for the next decade?

(note that you are not limited to selecting a new car…)

129 Comments

Ive already got mine Ed Ive no intention to replace my Citroen Xsara untill it literally wears out and as it approaches 300k kms it still burns no oil I figure its good for the usual half million before work will be needed on the engine, Its a very economical car with excellent roadholding capabilities far exceeding anything else of its era and at the speed limit in NZ it is SILENT not brougham quiet there is NO noise and comfortable so very comfortable. And if it breaks down I have my Hillman as a backup its pretty much none of the above but I like it. Here it is the day I took the spares wreck to the scrappy. 2 into one does go and it towed that

I assume you are talking about a newer car, one that sees regular use, and is not a custom job. In that case, it would probably be a CTS. We have an 08 with little over 42,000 miles on the clock and has been an absolute gem. It is too pricey for economy car duties, but if you can afford $38k and want a new car, it is about the best domestic make non specialty car going right now. Both in terms of reliability and practicality of size, cost, and functionality. Ironically, even though I am fully qualified to repair whatever, given I get a generous employee discount, I paid the $900 to bump the powertrain warranty to 10y/100k. I can sweat the small stuff but in the rare event that something on the engine or trans gives on the road its not my problem.

On a personal note, since my 93 Century wagon is beginning to creep towards 300k, once I part with it I will probably find some other moderately comfortable, cheap to buy into, low mileage owned by an old timer car and keep it going until I cannot work on cars any longer. Then I will likely either lease something very cheap just to be able to drive without worry and/or keep one of the owned cars going and be careful and pray.

An intriguing car there. The New Beetle convertible appealed to me too; if I was to have a rag top, these would be high on my list. And the diesel adds to its charms.

Is the question on which new car we’d pick? That’s a hard one for me, given my driving habits and how I use my car. I’m struggling with an answer.

I’ve been obsessing a bit on the idea of finding a really nice W124 Benz; you know, reliving the cars of one’s youth. And something quieter and better riding than my penalty Box. But how would I haul stuff? I’d have to get the wagon version.

The ’13 will be getting a Class I hitch installed soon (just as my ’00 has) for the times I occasionally need to haul lighter bulky stuff with my utility trailer (or pull an empty hay rack home) and don’t want to use the 4WD truck.

Just a pleasant faint exhaust note – at speed, you can’t tell it’s a diesel at all from the sound.

John H

Posted April 18, 2013 at 10:43 PM

I was actually thinking of stationary and at low speed before tyre & wind noise take over. Mind you I did have a diesel MB S-class drive past me approx 6′ away and only found it was diesel when I saw the badge on the trunk, it was silent.

I was looking at the Beetle convertible configurator yesterday, and it seemed to be impossible to get the classic style wheels yours has with the TDI engine. In fact there seemed to be no end to the variations one couldn’t create. Your car looks a lot like the ’50s-style 2.5 automatic version, which I couldn’t configure as a TDI. Nor were those wheels available on anything else. Did you manage to get a 6-speed manual too?

I would be happy keeping my current car for the next 10 years. It is a 2007 Honda Civic Si sedan. It doesn’t have many miles because I’ve driven company cars more often than not since I bought it new.

All of the VW dealers I spoke with offered to swap the standard TDI wheels for the Heritage wheels at no charge—they did it at the dealership. The ex-factory wheels were a bit too “bling-bling” for my tastes.

And yes, it’s a manual. An automatic would have had me looking at something else.

I would imagine that a good dealer would be accommodating to a non-invasive request like that. New car sales have rebounded, but you never have enough happy customers.

I wonder if you noticed anything about the M/F ratio of new buyers of these cars? We have discussed this before on here that the New Beetle is something of a girl car (although not quite as bad as the Cabrio) I wonder if that has settled down some. I imagine that TDI would attract more men than women since women might be too scared of diesels.

Like many people, I was told to get a move on if I want to enjoy the next 25 years of my life in good health. So I signed up for a fitness consultant at my local Y. My guy is an early 30s fresh off the boat (Lufthansa flight) German fellow who is married with a 2yo son. He purchased an 09 Jetta wagon for family duties. Like many native Europeans, he like manual equipped cars. He was looking for a manual equipped TDI but apparently at that time were rare as hen’s teeth. He has a manual equipped 2.5 SportWagon. The trainers are a concession to the Y and are actually independent contractors. We made a deal, in lieu of some or all of the monthly fees, I agree to service his cars at no charge labor (at cost parts) applying the labor to whatever I owed.

Is there a reason why the redesigned Beetle looks squished down compared to the first generation New Beetle?

I’m glad you had an agreeable dealer. I’ve had dealers refuse to swap for different factory wheels, even ones that from lower trim levels with smaller tires. I’d have gone with the manual/TDI drivetrain too. I’ve driven a couple of Jetta TDI DSG wagons(and a GTI DSG), and I didn’t care for that transmission.

Ten years is generally too long for me to make a vehicular commitment, but I will say that I hope to have our W124 wagon for at least that long. I might feel differently if it were my daily driver, but it’s my wife’s. I just drive it when we’re going somewhere together or I need a break from the bone-jarring ride of my Impreza. It really is a great family car and the design has held up well for something designed in the 80s.

The design has held up well??? That’s an understatement! IMO, this is one of the all time great car designs. Many probably think it’s bland, most won’t think “gorgeous”, but to me, it has this utter perfection. I can’t believe that it’s close to a 30 year old design. I liked its predecessor, the W123, but this was just a wild leap into the future, and yet sill looked every bit the Mercedes. Still looks so good today.

If I had the balls, I’d get myself a 500E. But I’m afraid of the maintenance headaches and costs.

I agree that it is one of the best designs of all time, my favorites being the wagon and coupe. 10 years ago I was really into the W123 and felt the W124 was too boring. But today the W124 exemplifies Modern to me, while the W123 feels like an antique. Add to that the superb chassis and the fact that it can actually get out of its own way (even the Diesels), and you have a winner. I would also love a 500E, but the price premium over an E420 is hard for me to justify.

I’m in the process of detailing Herbie, and he’ll be put up for sale soon. Would love to keep him around (insurance is cheap and he’s of course been paid off for years), but I really don’t need an(other) car sitting around, especially one that would be infrequently driven (the worst thing for anything mechanical is for it to sit).

Over the next ten years, I will be schlupping all my kids and wife around the US and Canada, while pulling a camping trailer. Since the Country Squire is no longer manufactured, my next vehicle will probably be either a Flex, a Transit Connect, an MKT, or an Explorer. I will also be more comfortable in a vehicle that size in ten years because my oldest will be old enough to drive in a decade and I would rather have her in a sizable vehicle with a dull, unsporty, disinteresting design about as big as an RV.

It has to be an American brand. I’m proud of American auto heritage and will continue to support only our brands.

I’ve got a truck and my wife loves large family vehicles so I’m thinking something smallish, decently efficient for what it is, and capable of going just about anywhere (within reason). I would chose a Jeep Patriot with the Freedom Drive package. I’m required to be at school come heck or high water during my contract days and if someone has to travel in adverse weather conditions or down the poor roads of the Navajo Nation, I want to be ready.

I’d like to point out first that I draw a line in my mind between transportation and interesting vehicles. Transportation is transportation, so it doesn’t have to be interesting. This dichotomy keeps me from doing stupid things like trying to have something I can’t afford, or is 50 years old for a daily driver.

Anyway, if I had to pick today I’d get a Ford Edge for our big car. My FIL is a sales guy at a Ford dealership so that narrows it down somewhat.
For our small car I cannot abide the proliferation of buttons and goofy drivetrain in the new Fusion, so it’ll have to be a Jetta with a 5-speed.

However, I have no illusions about them becoming classics, and will probably continue to drive “below my station in life” so that I can afford old cars, motorcycles, and trips to Hawaii.

Funny you mention Hawaii, because that’s where we’re headed for our 25th anniversary. I like to think the trip is being partially funded by what we saved by keeping our cars for long periods of time… (c:

On the comfy and practcal side, a new Buick LaCross or Subaru Legacy GT–don’t know why, but I really like them. Obviously a Volvo S60 would be a consideration, but the jury’s still out for me on the whole “Chinese” thing. But those are rather expensive for my frugal nature. Money being a necessary factor in any automotive purchase I make (the wife always gets the better stuff), I think I would be happy in either a slightly used Mazda 3 or Ford Focus wagon (as long as either were a 5-speed).

2010+ F150 supercab long-bed 4WD 5.5 or 5.0 STX. Only options would be power windows/locks and tow package. Perfect for the kids growing up and our non-paved road excursions in Idaho and elsewhere, plus being able to purchase a camper. Since I primarily ride my Cannondale(s), the truck mileage wouldn’t be an issue and the Accord would still be used for everything else we do.

I’m guessing by “5.5” you meant “3.5”, as in EcoBoost. No biggie, except you can’t get an STX with an EcoBoost.
But what do you mean by “long-bed”? If you mean 6.5 feet, then once again, no biggie.
But if by “long-bed” you meant 8 feet (in which case you will have gained massive respect from a youngster who loves SuperCab 8-foot beds with all his heart) then you’ll have to either upgrade to XLT or downgrade to XL. Based on your preference of spartan accomodations, I would definitely recommend downgrading to XL to save at least 5.5 K.

And yes, I enjoy pickup trucks way more than what is healthy.

I would without a doubt drive a brand-new F-150 XLT, SuperCab 8′ bed, 3.5L EcoBoost, Heavy-Duty payload package, 4×4, and then put a slide-in camper in the back (hence the HD payload package). It would be my car AND my house, all for less than 100K.

I would be fine with an XL or STX. I prefer a V8 over the twin-turbo V6, sound and perceived durability. I thought you could get an STX supercab with an 8′ bed. I really prefer the painted bumpers on the new truck style.

My father in law has been trying to give me his vintage slide-in (and pop-up) bed camper for a few years now, but he won’t give me his 90 F350 (460, 5MT, duallie) to go with it.

If I was actually buying a new F-150, I would probably end up going with the 5.0 mostly because of the price (what is it, $5.5 K for an EcoBoost?!), and also because of that little nagging voice in the back of my head that says “a truck ain’t a truck ‘nless it’s got a vee-ate or a straight-six.” Besides, comparing the 5.0 to the old 5.4 (which was a great engine when it came out…in 1997) is like a 20-year-old vs a 45-year-old in a footrace…no comparison whatsoever.

And I wouldn’t feel comfortable putting any slide-in camper into a half-ton truck unless it was 1.) an 8 foot bed, and 2.) the GVWR was at least 7700 lbs., which limits my choices (at least among Fords) to the 1997-1999 F-250 light duty (looks like an F-150 with 7-lug wheels), 2000-03 F-150 7700 (same thing, but without F-250 badges), or 2004-present F-150 Heavy Duty Payload package, either on a 145″ WB (Regular Cab) or 163″ WB (SuperCab). Starting last year, you can get the F-150 HD on a 157″ WB (SuperCrew 6.5’ bed), but like I said before, 8 foot bed is first priority.

My 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis is just getting properly broken in at 59,000 miles. I reckon I’ll keep it for every bit of another ten years. I tend to keep my cars a long time, anyway. Since 1968 I’ve owned six cars, including the Merc.

I love those classic style wheels! They make the new Beetle. Looks like you picked a real nice one too. For the next ten years I plan to run my one year old Mazda 2 as well as whatever flavour of the month classic car I happen to own.

I just made this decision last October. I’m a buy new & drive the crap out of it guy. I had put 248,000 miles on an ’01 Cougar before selling it to my brother for $1. It still has as least some life left in it, but I was ready for a car with a working air conditioner and without a burnt out synchro in 3rd gear (among other niggling problems).

My criteria for a car I could live with for the next decade and 200,000+ miles:

– The versatility of a hatchback and a fold flat rear seat, but without the bulk and inefficiency of an SUV.
– Four doors (squeezing passengers through a small door aperture into the tight rear compartment of the Cougar got old fast).
– Better than average ride & handling and enough power to get out of its own way.
– Standard transmission (both because I’m a cheapskate and because that’s what I’m used to).
– Good comfort for the driver, at least passable comfort for occasional rear seat passenger.
– Burns regular gas and gets good gas mileage by today’s standards.
– Affordable (like I said, I’m a cheapskate).

For me that narrowed my choice down to a Focus. Like VanillaDude, above, I’m loyal to American brands even though it’s no longer really a rational consideration, but even if that weren’t true, the Focus would probably still have best matched my criteria.

I paid 2/3 of what the average U.S. car buyer is paying these days to get a mid-trim version. I’m averaging 29.5 mpg despite my hellish stop & go Northern Virginia commute. I’m driving a car I like to drive, and I don’t see that really changing over the next 10 years.

A convertible would be fun (I have fond memories of the ’63 Skylark convertible I shared with my sister as a teen), but practical considerations weigh heavier as I get older.

Since I’m retired and don’t drive a lot of miles, I don’t really care about fuel efficiency. A trip to the store, bank, or golf course is my usual driving. I’m sure my 78 Eldorado (with 38K) would last the next 10 years as my primary car. A joy to drive, I really don’t know why I’ve driven it so little since buying it in year 2000. (Probably due to the fact that I thought it would skyrocket in value. Boy, was I wrong.)

Many times I’ve thought of selling my other three cars, and just keeping the Eldo. (The wife has her RAV.)

Good question, hopefully not the 97 Saturn I have been driving for the last 10 years since I really need something a little bigger for family trips. We have been seriously looking at used Mazda5s and less seriously at used Sprinter vans since all the bike shops have them. As background we junked our second car a year ago and mainly use our car for trips and the weekly grocery run, using bicycles, trains, and occasionally my motorcycle for everything else.Consequently something big makes sense since it will rarely run with a single occupant and no cargo like those Bro trucks doing the commuter run.

My pickup truck is 19 years old now, and the way I treat it, I wouldn’t be surprised to get another 10 years out of it. I joke with my wife that our son will learn to drive in my pickup. He’s currently in kindergarten.

If I had to replace it, I would probably get another (used) diesel pickup, a Cummins or a 2005-06 Duramax, but a crewcab next time. I’m hopeful that the V6 diesel that’s coming for the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge 1500 is going to be a good motor, because that would give me another option.

If I found another big old Chrysler in good driver-quality shape for the right price, I would consider that too. For use as a year-round daily driver I would want a 4-door and would have to fit it with a hitch.

I have one of my Chryslers insured with my regular insurance company, and so did my brother until last year. They just won’t put collision on the policy unless I get an appraisal, which wasn’t a big deal to me until I started restoring the bodywork.

The Heritage wheels are a selectable option on some Beetle trim levels, but not on the TDIs. All the dealers I talked with were more than happy to swap them out at the dealership at no charge. The ex-factory wheels are 18″ “bling-bling” monstrosities (to my eye), the Heritage wheels are 17″ (cheaper tires in the long run) and give the car more of the classic Beetle look.

I think the new New Beetle has a very Porsche 356 look about it. Every time I see one it makes me stop and pay attention.

As for a car for 10+ years, for me it is a no brainer, Volvo S60 or better yet V60 next year when they come to the US. I have 3 old 850’s my kids use for school and they are reasonable to work on myself and solid after 200,000 miles each. The one is the baby in the fleet with 100,000. Still safe, reliable and decent mileage if the kids don’t get on the turbo:)

We’re actually going to GET the V60?! Oh, that would be the one for me, if that were the case. I love my V50 and was figuring I’d have to get a sedan next time. My current car isn’t going anywhere for some time though–just got new wipers and tires this spring.

I’m coming up on six years with the wagon–bought it as a CPO one-year-old ex-loaner. It’s been a great car.

If I could have only one vehicle to service all duties – known and foreseen – for the next ten years, I would get a crew cab F-150 4×4 with the 5.0 liter V8. Gas mileage be damned, I know that’s what would work best for me.

Not that long ago I had a true phobia about crew cab 1/2 tons, however when a deal presented itself I bought one. It hauls people, cargo, and can pull a heavy trailer all at the same time. In the snow. Up hills. And off-road.

That said, my ’07 fits this description pretty close; it has 103k, so it’s got a lot of life left. I may still be driving it in 10 years!

I barely keep a car for 3 years. If I were to own something for 10 years it would need maximum versatility for our frequent traveling and wilderness adventures and practical for everyday use. So we bought a base model Outback. Hopefully this time I have a keeper.

Your Beetle is sharp, Ed. Good for you for choosing a convertible. Everybody should own a convertible at least once. And those wheels are perfect. No worries about the cost of fuel in ten years.

As empty nesters ourselves, I’ve found it’s really good to have a special car for two. My Miata has turned out to be like that. Normally it’s just my car, but Lily and I take it on special occasions, and she gets a kick out of that.

My choice for the next decade? Price no object: Tesla Model S, no doubt about it.

Back in the real world? The 2010 Prius hatchback we bought three years ago for the next decade plus. It’s been perfect on a series of medium and long trips, as well as daily driving. Plenty of room, especially with the back seats folded down. No worries about the price of gas in 2023 either.

But enough about new cars. What CC would I choose for the next ten years? W124 Mercedes E300, naturally.

Well Ed, I just saw a vw new beetle (last years type) pulling a casita plastic trailer today and I think you would have loved it. I think (hope) I have my cars for the next decade. We just traded our 2010 cube for a 2013 with automatic. I agonized, read, and asked questions about that CVT and finally decided there had not been a statistical difference between it and other automatics for 4-5 years. We rented a couple versas for trips and I finally decided to take the plunge. Stick worked fine when we bought the 2010 but the wife’s clutch side knee went south. Now she has freed up a lot of time that I previously had to drive her around.

For me, I just fixed the air conditioner in a truck that makes me pretty happy. If a truck can get 20+ mpg and still carry a round bale of hay without the springs frowning I will happily drive it. My 91 S10 does that without complaint. I just put 200 miles on it with a galveston trip today and am pleased. I have the house on the back (like Norm) about half built. I think it’s paint is about to become light colored bed liner but really, better headlights and it’s set.

My safety valves are the 57 210 Chevy that still sets waiting for me to finish my homebuilding projects and the DT175 Yamaha that I just picked up last week. There is no fool like an old fool and I’m all in. Btw, my donkey is named Eeyore but that would work just as well for my truck.

With any luck at all, I’m not going to buy another for a long time but rental cars make the itch go away. We are going from texas to maine, nova scotia, and new brunswick next month. Airplanes and rental cars are on the menu. I made most of that trip behind the wheel of a new 1966 bettle but I was much younger then.

Honda Element
I had a 2004 Element which I loved…Can carry anything, small enough to park easily, unbelievably reliable, great in Buffalo snow…mediocre gas mileage though…
When I heard they would discontinue it, I bought a brand new 2011 2 years ago so I could keep it for 10 years.
Lets face it there’s nothing else like it on the market…Either too fancy or too small.
Full disclosure…I also own a 2007 BMW Z4 3.0si coupe!

Mike, I drive a 2008 realtime AWD element. I’m 6’6″, and I have driven from Texas to Ohio and back in 650 mile stretches. It handles wonderfully, and is so short that you can cut in and out of traffic like a sports coup, if you need to. Plenty of head room, not as much legroom as some, but plenty for me and I wear 34″-36″ inseam.

The 25 mpg is a bit of a stretch, but you could do it, or even better if you stay between 2k and 3k rpm.

Argh! Mrs.Louie drives an 02 gas turbo Beetle. It’s nice but I could never commit myself to it for any length of time. I’ll never figure you old air cooled guys out. I could see myself keeping one of those running forever but these newer Beetles don’t have any charm or personality IMO. Yes I’d say it was a “chick” car by my standards. Ours has a niggling SES light problem that’s been kicking my ass. I ain’t looking foward to dumping a TLC(TruckLoadofCash) for emissions repair parts in the near future to fix that light either!

My pick? It’s a toss up over a 84 Riviera T-Type or 80 GMC Diablo I have tucked away waiting for me to win the lottery so I can finally restore them to driver status. I want to be known as that Old Fart with a really cool old car. My fantasy pick would be one of the 200 or so built 08 HHR SS Panel deliveries. Or any supercharged/turbo’d Cobalt SS or HHR SS model.

One thing I would just love to do to a Beetle is to recreate a Baha Bug. Everything but the tub is plastic so all I would need to do is strip off that plastic,fab some nerf bars with a lift kit and it’s off to the dunes. Hmmm? One problem. It’s FWD!

If I were to drive a car for the next 10 years, it would be an Acura MDX. It hits all the right points for me: practicality, reliability, luxury, performance, and style. I have always loved MDXs and found them to be some of the most attractive SUVs on the market (especially the 2010-2013). The current generation’s design has held up well. It’s been around since ’07 and still looks fresh and competitive. And with the exception of the bad transmissions from the early 2000s, you can’t beat Honda/Acura reliability and resale value.

I currently own a 2010 TSX V6 and couldn’t be happier with it. I purchased it CPO last fall. I wish I could’ve bought an MDX, but wasn’t about to pay $30K for an ’09.

This is a very tough question to answer as I seem to now have at least a couple of vehicles in the driveway to accomplish different missions. In terms of my daily drivers, I haven’t been keeping them that long since I started driving more. Truth be told, I think I’d be afraid of keeping most new cars that long. I plan to keep my 2012 Altima for a while, but 10 years is doubtful.

So putting my phobias aside, I’d want it to be comfortable, reliable, good looking with good driving dynamics, and good mileage. Tough one. If money were no object and I wasn’t so concerned with mileage, I’d go with a Cadillac or maybe an Infinity. I could go with a new pickup or an Explorer or something and replace a couple of my cars, but I don’t really like driving a truck every day. These are tough decisions.

If mileage is concern then I back looking at 4 cylinder Altimas, or maybe a Mazda 6.

If we’re talking classics, then I’d take a 65 Mustang with a HiPo 289, or any 60’s pillar-less hardtop really.

This might be a bit of an unconventional choice considering it’s not a current model, but if I lived out west or down south or anywhere that snow wasn’t a consideration and I could find a well taken care of example, my ideal car would be a late 80’s Toyota Cressida. It has the just the right combination of luxury, comfort, and performance to satisfy me on a daily basis and should be reasonably economical to maintain.

I will say those hubcaps make the car look classic. In Maryland there is loads of New Beetles and a goodly amount of the current VW Beetle(like your 2013) and I have seen them both with the alloy rims and those old school hubcaps and I must confess I like the old school VW hubcaps. It is like VW is trying to harness the image/memory of the original VW and it is working.

I just bought a 2011 Scion XB at the beginning of 2012 and it had less then 10,000 miles(so it is new enough) so I figure that I can get 5- 10 years out of it without problems. I like that with the rear seats down it can hold the same or a bit more then a midsize SUV(although for hauling junk I have a 1990 Volvo 240)

So why not keep it and let the wife drive it and save the van for trips?

I’m fickle when it comes to cars and buy a new one every 2 to 4 years. Despite being a poor quality car(continuous coolant leak, wheel bearing failures, unbelievably fragile paint, and sqeaks/rattles galore),I kept my 06 Subaru Forester for 4 years because I just liked it and it was practical. My Maxima is two years old now and I’m cruising the car dealers on Sundays looking at the Ford C Max and various Toyota hybrids.

I love the freedom; I love the history of the industry. I love the way the changes in manufacturing were displayed in product; love the story of emerging management techniques – from Harry Bennet’s goons with clubs, to Alan Mullaly’s hugs and notes.

I love to drive; or did. But these days…I’m past the peak of my earnings; long story but that’s how it is. I have to watch every nickel.

I just bought my last car. A 2012 Toy Yoda Yaris. Boring? Sure. But it gets me where I need to get. I’ll get fifteen years out of it easy…and from there, it’s the Senior Center Shuttle.

Because there is no one car that matches up driving fun, utility and economy. So…fun comes elsewhere.

Like…for me…in a rediscovered (four years ago) hobby: TWO wheels. Now THERE…I’m willing to experiment a bit.

Check out the YarisWorld website. (A Yaris Website? What a wonderful world!) Lots of “kids” there, but the word is put a rear sway bar on the Yaris and the handling goes very neutral and fun. Not much you can do to make them faster, though. The new interior looks much more durable and cheery, and that drivetrain will run forever. Maybe the extended care place will let you keep yours for holidays!

A beefy rear sway bar will wake up most any FWD car… I fabricated custom brackets on my ’82 Cavalier Type 10 hatch and had *dual* parallel rear sway bars. Replaced the front bar with a larger one from a Z-24. Man, did that car handle!

On my 88 Z24 convertible, already beefed up somewhat, I installed poly bushings front and rear, KYB AGX struts and monotube shocks, installed a strut bar in front, a shock bar in rear (same concept) and an Eibach Pro Kit suspension system. Despite being a convertible, that car could probably pull G’s no Cavalier driver could ever dream of. It truly was a delight and I miss that car to this day. And to top it off, probably cost me about $500 in total cash outlay.

Great sentiments, Just Passin’ Thru! And I couldn’t agree with you more. I love the whole thing, the history, the character’s, the freedom to go anywhere anytime your heart desires.

Harry Bennett and the Ford Service Department. Not the kind of “service” you want administered by his “technicians”! Robert Lacey in his excellent book “Ford: The Men and the Machine” details Bennett, his relationship to Henry Ford and the infamous Ford Service Department.

You’ll have to keep us posted on how the new Beetle TDI holds up over time. I added a 06 Jetta TDI to my own stable last Dec. Most everything I’ve read on TDI Club says stay far far away from the dealerships.

As its stands now my long term plan is to keep my 99 XJ Cherokee I6 indefinitely while my commuter car changes every 2-4yrs. I’ve daydreamed about getting another XJ or MJ Comanche and swapping in a small diesel backed by a 5 or 6 speed manual. With 30mpg in a Goldilocks sized vehicle I think I could drive it darn near forever.

For the next commuter I’m watching EVs with interest but leaning towards another compact to midsize diesel. My current commute is 80mi of pure highway. I am happy that GM & Mazda both have diesels in the works. No longer having the diesel car segment to themselves should keep VAG on their toes.

Will do. An EV is simply not an option for me – with our cold Middle West winters and 70+ mile daily commute (round trip), plus occasional 3–18 hour road trips, there’s simply not one out there that would work for me.

The economics aren’t there (yet), but a diesel-powered electric drive powertrain would be of interest (not hybrid).

Tough question. I never know enough to commit to a car for the long term until I have driven it for awhile. My current crew? No idea if I will stick with them for 10 years. This is one reason I have driven a lot of older cars over the years, so that my automotive ADD does not become so expensive.

I could certainly see falling for a reasonably late model Town Car for 10 years, and so far I really like my Kia Sedona, so if it holds up reasonably well, I can easily see 10 years with it. I am over halfway into a 10 year stretch with my Honda Fit. I wish I could have convinced Mrs. JPC to go with the 5 speed. Oh well.

Older car? I really liked my 1st Gen Odyssey. I could also live with a nice old Mopar C body sedan, but I may be past one of those as a daily driver. It looks like you have a fun one in your VW. Maybe I could do either a Miata or a Mustang convertible. Hmmm – the possibilities are nearly endless.

I wonder about this about 4 hours a day and never come up with the same answer. I just sold my Forester Turbo since I didn’t really NEED 4wd and we had 3 cars and now only 2 drivers at home. What’s left is our New Beetle (once again) that’s 12 years old and a Prius which, honestly is a keeper. I also have 3 motorcycles. With all that rolling stock diluting the impact of two low-mileage drivers I really don’t need anything within the next ten years, or maybe for the rest of my life. OTOH, I just got back from a 2 wheeled trip to the desert, and seeing all those enticing dirt roads makes me long for another 4wd. But fuel economy is very important to me … so maybe the Prius could get traded for a Hybrid Subaru Crosstrek, since I can’t imagine VW importing a Diesel Tiguan.

I’d like to keep driving my ’90 Brougham for the next decade, but I know that’s just a dream. I’ll probably just buy an end of the run panther car and drive that until it breaks down, which will probably be a long time from now.

Why not? Mechanical parts are plentiful and cheap on that car and a good upholstery shop will keep the driver’s seat up to date. The main issue would be trim parts which you should start to hoard.

With all this discussion of diesel lately and the expectations that gas will remain high, I have been thinking of finding a clean but cheap C or D body of that ilk and dropping in a diesel. Probably a 6.5 Turbo Diesel either a well kept one initially or a newly rebuilt one. Cars with less than desirable engines can be had for reasonable money and even the engine investment keeps the overall cost low for me. Of course I am a mechanic so this option is really only practical for me. A guy on the diesel boards did just that with an 84 backed with a 700R4 3.08 gears he gets 22 city 36 highway. Unlike the slow original diesels the 6.5TD in a Brougham would be a real bruiser.

I’ve had my current ute for 10 years, although it is not a daily driver thanks to company cars. With a rust repair I’ll likely keep it for 10 more, otherwise if we are going new-model I’d either chase down a good Falcon RTV ute or build one out of the current model because that package is no longer offered. Ultimate version would be either XR6 with the EcoLPI (liquid-phase LPG injection) or swap in a diesel engine from the Territory SUV along with the awd drivetrain.

There is a guy in South Australia who converted a Falcon wagon to Territory AWD running gear, including adding an RTV locking rear diff and an LPG conversion. It is a seriously impressive bit of work, and apart from a modified floorpan to cater for the transfer case and custom mount, I think most parts used were stock factory pieces.

Actually I probably wouldn’t go for the XR6, rather the base model with the 3rd seat, can always dress it up afterwards plus then you get more load capacity.

Number 1 criterion is ground clearance though, I have taken my current ute up through the Snowy Mountains, out to Lake Eyre, etc – really given it a workout at times. Plus a day at the race track and a couple at the drag strip, with a change of wheels. Carried a ton of crushed rock, near that of pavers, towed car trailers for thousands of miles – I think I bought the right vehicle.

An RTV would be great but I’m not really a fan of the excessive curvature of the roof that puts the windshield header & particularly the top of the pillar too close to your head.

My current daily driver is sure to be a future CC — the 2003 Mini Cooper S pictured below, in its natural element on the autocross course. I ordered the car in late summer 2002 and it arrived Valentine’s Day of 2003. I still love it 209,000 miles later. It is an absolute blast to drive, and the hatch makes in quite versatile. Just don’t take humans in the back seat.

My mechanic loves it too.There are some good reasons why this particular model is a regular on the Consumer Reports “used cars to avoid” list, but mainly he likes it because I’m slowly wearing the car out part-by-part, and upgrading as we go along. It’s now starting to burn a bit of oil and I’m starting to worry a bit about reliability.

What would I replace it with? Well, there is the current Mini, but I don’t think it handles as well, nor is it as well made. The Fiat 500 is too small and tall. I’m driving Mazda Miatas in some autocross events and I can see driving one on the street, but they lack hatchback utility. The current VW GTI doesn’t do it for me, as they’ve gotten relatively big and heavy. Several people have suggested the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ. I hope I don’t have to decide soon!

I bought my Turbo Forester XT 5MT in 2004. When the new style Legacy came out a year later, with the Turbo GT or Outback XT versions, I kicked myself for not waiting a year. And that was about the time our 14 year old son put on a growth spurt and suddenly the Forester back seat didn’t seem so big anymore. I think that ’05-’07 Legacy body, especially in GT trim, is probably the best looking Japanese sedan of all time, along with the first Mazda 6 of about the same model years.

Yes, the BL Legacy was a good looking car. 2-3 years ago before the used market went bonkers you could pick them up a 2.5i off lease for $15-16k. Its had to believe it from the same company that gave us such oddballs as the Brat, SVX and Baja.

The GTs also represent a great value play on the used market, they are frequently cheaper that a similar mileage and condition Impreza WRX or STi.

I very recently purchased my first brand new car ever: A Volkswagen ‘up!’.

Having only ever owned well used (well loved, I like to say) old cars, (I’d love to write about a few of them someday) I had always wanted to have that special new car experience at least once in life. It was just a matter of waiting until the right car came along, and my finances permitting. That’s when I found the up!, and I was smitten by it’s quirky charms.

So far I’ve had a great experience with the little up!. I did buy it with long term ownership in mind, so it’s very likely it will extend beyond ten years!

I’m in Melbourne Australia. I’ve spent half my time in the states though. Only came back about a year ago.

I wish VW would send the up! Stateside. If Fiat could do it with the 500, then why not? It would be a lot more practical than the Fiat too. They would have to get the pricing right though.

I really like your collection of VW’s. Air-cooled VW’s are what first sparked my fascination with cars. Never owned or even rode in one, but I’ve always enjoyed the idea of someday owning a classic bug.

That new Beetle drop top looks really sharp, especially with the retro wheels. It’s a shame VW doesn’t currently offer the convertible model in Australia.

I’ve seen a couple of Ups on the road plus dealers seem to have good stocks. A good ‘around town’ car, I’d be happy with the choice of a petrol engine rather than a diesel which in around town use would be prone to problems with the DPF, let alone any higher long-term maintenance costs for the ultra-high pressure injection system.

Actually, it is Copper Red. It turns more orange in brighter light. That nice old tree may also be throwing off the color balance on my phone camera. And yeah, I’m in metro Boston, so an underspray is probably a good idea.

When this car was just a rumor, it was to be rear engine, rear wheel drive. One of the options was to be a small TDI engine and I fell in love with the prospects of a Smart-fighter getting close to 70-90 mpg. Then it became what you now basically drive, a front engine, front wheel drive. And I don’t believe a TDI is available. A pity for us in the US that we get neither the Up! or an Up! TDI. Regardless, it’s a very clean design and a future CC in my book!

Not even Europe has a TDI in the Up yet. A natural gas model is available and an electric version is apparently on the way, but nothing yet confirmed about the diesel. It would have been my first choice if it was, and the extra torque over the petrol version would be much appreciated!

The original design proposal for the Up was far more fascinating, but it’s easy to understand why a more conventional layout was decided for production. I still see it as a true spiritual successor of the original beetle. It’s a true people’s car. Simple, affordable, and unpretentious but cool in an understated kind of way.

I’ve always really liked both generations of the new Beetle. But just like the Mini, Fiat 500, and other retro-themed cars of late, I think it’s more about the design statement. Nothing wrong with that though!

I’ve been doing this since 1999. Daily driver is a ’99 Cadillac Seville SLS. The cheapest way to own a car is to buy a good one, perform meticulous maintenance, and drive it forever. There is a premium to be paid for ownership of a luxury vehicle, be it a Benz, a Beemer, or a Caddy. But it’s worth it in the long run.

For economy, a friend of mine still has her 1988 honda accord. The odometer/speedo went out around 350,000 miles. It’s had 1 engine rebuild on it in the late 90’s. The paint’s faded and the upholstery worn, but it’s still her daily driver for a 100+ mile commute. She saves her big money for her pet Alfa Romeo and Porsche.

The key factor is to avoid the barrage of marketing tactics and not fall into the “I need a new car” trap.

+1
In 1996 I bought two new Volvo 850s, a stripper 5-speed 850 sedan and a loaded 850R wagon. (No, I was not wealthy, but I had saved my money, the timing was perfect, my newly married life and return to the U.S. required two new cars, and I got a deal I could not forego.) When stuff breaks in either car, it gets fixed, so both cars run exceptionally well at about 120K miles each. My wife’s sedan spends most of the day in the garage, so it looks great, but the wagon is outdoors a lot, and the sun has hammered its seventeen-year-old clearcoat. That and a few dings and scrapes have it looking rather tatty close-up, so I’m about to have the whole car painted. The paint job (done right) will cost what a decent used car costs (I’ll definitely be more diligent with the waxing from now on), but I can’t find a new car I like better, or a used car in whose history I am as confident. (My screed against the ludicrous degree of gadgetry in new cars, as well as my paean to the Volvo 850R wagon, the nearly-perfect vehicle, will have to wait.)
To answer Paul’s question, I’m hoping to be driving my COAL ’96 850R wagon for the next ten years. If a boulder rolled down a mountain and crushed it tomorrow, I’d look at a Tesla, the new Chevy (Holden) SS (how can I convince them to sell me a 9C1 Detective sedan with a six-speed?), or strangely enough, a 2014 (?) Buick Grand National. I have an unusual Volvo-Buick affinity I occasionally see elsewhere as well – mine comes from the tenacious ’74 145 wagon I drove in high school, followed by the mighty ’76 LeSabre hardtop I drove in college.

I’ve had my DD ’95 Explorer now for 12 of its 18 years. About the only thing I don’t love about it, its rather dismal fuel economy. My V8 powered ’77 Chevelle gets better mileage and is faster than the venerable fuel injected, pushrod 4.0 V6 in the Explorer, despite similar power ratings and curb weight.

Prior to the Explorer, I had a 6000-STE for two years, and a 76 Chevelle for 8.

Ed: You are a very brave man, owning all those Volkswagens! I do see the appeal of the TDI Beetle, though. My next door neighbor bought one of the first to come out, a cheery little yellow New Beetle, with stick. We drove it around the neighborhood to check it out, and it was quite charming. The aural impression was kind of like an old Greyhound Scenicruiser, but without the clashing gears, of course. It was quick enough, with the impression more of gathering speed, rather than accelerating-very smooth. And, of course, it was new, so everything felt tight and all the interior parts were still attached! Good luck with the new car, with your skills I am sure you can keep it running and enjoy it a long time.

My “ten year car?” I like the first generation Acura TSX-basically, a European Accord with an Acura interior. So, it would last, and be quick enough and comfortable in the process.

High maintenance itself is no a problem if two things happen: 1) Your pocketbook can cover it; 2) You can keep costs down. My daily drivers are all older high mileage American make cars because no matter how much attention they need I can make quick work of it at a tremendously inexpensive cost. At this point, factoring in purchase price, insurance , and even a limited amount of expected maintenance I would lose a lot of money going new. Unless it was an extremely cheap lease. And even then since you Don’t own the car you cannot recover any capital costs however small.

Timing belts have been the most expensive maintenance item on my TDI (and I’ll note that most smaller engines use them these days, so it’s not an item unique to the TDI). I don’t have the tools for that job, so I’ve paid around $1,000 three times now for the work. Everything else I’ve done myself, including a new stainless steel exhaust (including cat) last year plus a complete suspension replacement (Audi TT bushings, Shine Racing springs, Koni struts/shocks, Brembo pads and rotors). I’ve saved $thousands in labor and dealer markup costs over the years that way…

I would advise non-mechanical types on a budget to Run away! Run away! from TDIs, as they do tend to want a bit more attention than a pushrod V6 or V8.

I keep getting this crazy image of the TDI engine grafted into your Ford 8N (hey, they used to stuff flathead V8’s in there!) Not practical-Herbie looks to be in such good shape, and if I recall the 8N was a torque tube design, no frame to attach the motor to, so quite the challenge. Still, I bet my brother and all his friends with their green tractors would let you come over to Davenport and play on plowing days if you had that rig. Would anyway-they are pretty welcoming so long as you can talk tractors and other mechanical stuff. Happy Trails!

I already have mine, too, my 2003 Thunderbird. With only 15,000 miles on the clock, it’s going to last me the rest of my life, god willin’ and the creek don’t rise! Fun to drive, a great “boulevardier,” powerful enough for me, easy on the maintenance (so far), always gets looks. I even had a guy approach me in a parking lot and offer to buy it on the spot, and he was driving a new Mercedes CLK convertible. Sorry, pal, I finally got my ’57 Thunderbird that I lusted after for decades, and I’m not parting with it for love or money!

Ed, that’s a nice looking Beetle TDI and I wish you the best of luck with her. Being a TDI, it will be a long run in ownership. I love what VW did with the retro wheels and find it interesting that it is a wheel not offered across the Beetle line up. In changing down to a smaller wheel and tire were any changes required to your odometer or engine calibration required? Any differences worth noting in your new 2.0 TDI versus the old 1.9?

Well, I guess I’m driving a future CC, my 2000 New Beetle TDI GLS 5 speed. After reading Brock Yate’s glowing review of the 98 New Beetle in Car and Driver and taken by the retro looks of the car, I bought a new TDI and have never looked back. Like Just Passing Thru, I enjoy the history and characters behind a car or a company. IMO, the New Beetle saved VW in America. Think back, prior to the New Beetle, VW was in bad shape with low sales and little showroom traffic. In Germany, Ferdinand Piech wanted an updated, modern version of the car. Tasked with the design were Freeman Thomas and J Mays, 2 great designers who went on to later successes with Ford and Chrysler and Audi. The New Beetle was THE car that started the entire Retro craze in automotive design, from the return of the Mini Cooper to the new/old 1969/2013 Ford Mustang.

The New Beetle is a close enough copy of their design effort, the Concept 1, from the single instrument binnacle down to those aluminum rims. But for me, as much as I love the design, the TDI has just one of those all time great engines. In the early years of ownership, driving to work 120 miles round trip everyday and pulling a steady 52 mpg was an eye opener that still amazes me to this day. Great on the wallet too. While the rest of our country’s drivers fell victim to each unexplained spike in gas prices, the TDI kept on chugging away. There is an excellent web site dedicated to the TDI so a lot of shade tree repair work can be done, something to consider if possible, as service prices can be rather high. 13 Years of Ownership….145,000 miles and counting.

The side by side photo of Ed’s 2 Beetles really show how significant the changes were in the new Walter de Silva’s design. Like Ed, it has taken a long time for this new design to grow on me. I always wondered how one can redesign a “retro” design. Well, I think the answer is in and I’d say it’s a classic effort worthy of the original design.

I still have my copy of Auto magazine with the Concept 1 on the cover, and I completely agree about the NB saving (or at least reinvigorating) VWoA. Volkswagen (like a lot of other car companies) had/has been drifting away from the brand reputation built over decades, and the NB (I believe) resonated with a lot of folk’s understanding of what VW “means.”

Realistically, I could keep Herbie going another 5-10 years if I wanted to—TDIs are starting to hit in the 400-500K miles range at this point. Properly maintained, they are highly durable engines. However, I’m at a point where the finances were there and we’re personally at a point in life where I was ready for a change. Even with the higher mileage on Herbie, I should realize a pretty good return when I sell him—TDIs are fairly desirable right now.

Here’s another side-by-side that better illustrates the profile differences between the NB and nB:

Great head-to-head shot that really illustrates the differences in the update. The “new” Beetle seems to have more in common with the Classic Beetle then the NB. Must be a cool driving sensation to switch from one generational classic to the newest one!

Regarding the Concept One: One design cue that I wish made it to production were the front horn grills. A neat touch that paid homage to the early Beetles.

Oh, as far as differences between the 1.9 and 2.0, the larger engine makes 140hp vs. 90hp, and 235lb/ft vs. 155lb/ft of torque. The convertible has bottomless wells of torque, in other words…

One of the reasons I went ahead and bought this year is that I fully expect the next gen TDI to require DEF on all VW models in which it’s used (currently, the smaller models including the Beetle do not require DEF). The DPF cycle has been completely unnoticeable on the 2.0.

The Beetle convertible weighs 3,200lb vs. 2,700 for the NB, so even with the 50% hp boost, the car isn’t going to win any drag races (maybe across the intersection, but that’s torque speaking). The added weight makes the car ride like a much larger car than it is—with all the suspension mods I did to Herbie, his ride characteristics ended up being a bit harsh on our pothole-ridden Illinois farm roads, but on smooth pavement, he’s a real hoot to drive. The convertible has the IRS rear suspension from the Turbo model, which I’ve noticed does a really nice job keeping the car planted through the bumps.

It’s been odd getting back in Herbie, as the controls and instrumentation seem very basic and simple compared to Eeyore. But then, I thought the same thing when I went from the original ’64 Eeyore to Herbie! (c:

Interesting perspective on hurrying up to avoid the Urea emissions system. The Mk7 Jetta is one of the contenders for my next commuter ride precisely because it has urea.

My experience in the world of commercial vehicles the 2007-10 DPF vehicles have been much more problematic than the 2010+ Urea based systems. Refuse collection is pretty much the worst case scenario for stressing the emissions systems. At my work the 6.4 Ford F550s and 2 Pete 320s that have big DPFs have had all sorts of emissions related downtime. So far our 2 6.7 Fords as well as Crane and Pete loaders have given no trouble.

My employer manufactures diesel engines (off highway, captive and marine), so I’m somewhat familiar with emissions standards (that’s not part of my normal job, tho). IIRC, cars in the US are currently at Tier II, where the bigger stuff is now coming up on Tier 4 Final – a much more stringent standard, which has driven the use of DEF and other aftertreatment solutions in addition to a DPF. It appears to me the market has gone through the same instability that cars did in the 1970s and early ’80s when they were first saddled with emissions control systems.

In my case, I mainly wanted to avoid the cost (over ten years) and having to keep track of one more fluid in the car.

My daily driver has always been an older but desirable car. The challenge is finding a model that delights but is comfortable and reliable enough to not become bothersome. Then there is the challenge of finding the exact car, the hunt so to speak.

If you buy right you can end up with a problem though. The car can become too valuable or cherished to drive without fear or guilt.

I’ve concluded the best old car for actual driving is something a little banged up but complete and original. A mid-80s Mercedes 300SD would be perfect, I think. Relatively common/plentiful, economical, very reliable and of course a joy to drive and ride in. I could live with that for 10 years.

For a new car the Toyota/Subaru BRZ or upcoming Mazda CX5 with the turbo diesel.

Great choice, Ed! If you like Beetles and convertibles, as you do. My own life with VWs, over a dozen and counting now, began when they put the engine up front, behind a radiator. I’d already enjoyed the rear-engined thang with the rare, nimble and frisky car referenced in my screen name.

I, too, recently decided that my 10-year-old, 200,000-mile Beetle TDI was an economy I couldn’t afford. Two instances of electrical failure cost me over a year’s worth of fuel savings. I drive my cars hard, don’t do my own service work, and don’t have a spare. So I sold the stinkbug to another tdiclub enthusiast for a very nice price. Following my mechanic’s advice. I bought a low-mileage 2009 GTI with the 2.0T gas engine. Not that I’m satisfied with 30 mpg, but the GTI comes with a built-in cost advantage. It matures like a savings bond, at 100,000 miles, when I won’t have to replace the timing belt and that $1000 won’t have to leave my wallet. I’ll consider buying a TDI again when they come with a long-life timing chain, instead of a disposable belt.

Yep… the belt that came on the car was only rated for 40,000 miles. The first and second replacements were rated at 60,000, and the last for 100,000 (the increases were due both to better belt materials as well as a better idler pulley design). The 100K interval isn’t so bad – basically once every five or six years for my driving profile.

When I bought the car, I figured the payback was about five years (extra cost of the TDI vs. lower fuel bill). Last year I spent about 9¢/mile for fuel in the TDI vs. 17¢/mile for my wife’s T&C.

So was your electrical problem due to a bad Relay 109? I finally had to replace mine last fall when it intermittently started failing (which causes the engine to stop!).

Relay 109……..yes, I read about this Relay 109 and the horror stories surrounding the legend. But I however, was a Happy TDIer, for I had the one Relay 109 in the whole world that kept on relaying for over 140 thousand miles.:)

I felt immune and arrogant. Hah! Carry a spare Relay 109 in the glove box, along with a flashlight and proper sized torx screwdriver to remove the relay cover? That was for sissies, for my Relay 109 never failed and never will.

Until one hot summer day walking out of the local Shop and Bag. Ice cream and a nice steak for the grill. Get in the NB, turn the key and the engine turns over and over and over. Nothing. So you sit there like a fool for 20 minutes.. Over and over and over. Finally, it kicks off! Now, get out of here NOW. Do not stop. Do not stall. Pull into driveway and for kicks, shut her down. Start her up. No start.

A spare Relay 109 now resides in my glove box. If there is an achillies heal to the VW TDI it is that little 25 dollar relay. My opinion: it is a potentially fatal flaw for there is no warning of failure. It can happen any time or any place.

Ha! Mine made it almost 200,000 miles! (your comment is almost worthy of its own CC, too!)

Michael Notigan

Posted April 18, 2013 at 7:23 PM

Ed, If I were feeling smug about having one of those Relay 109’s that never fail, I can only imagine you may have been thinking kind of like how I was; “Ha, those TDI’ers with crap Relay 109’s……..what could they have been doing to abuse their relay?!?! Look at mine, like a Timex watch!”

Electrical Gremlin Classics: Relay 109 and 9 other Electrical Gremlins
that can make you twist the key and yell “Hey,
what the hell?!?!?!?!?”

200,000! Sorry to hear you went to gas after enjoying the TDI as much as you did. After paying the dealership close to 800 dollars for the timing belt changeout at 60k, at 120k I was feeling frugal and frisky. And risky for as you know, one slip the wrong way and valves meet pistons on this interference engine. So armed with my Haynes and Bentley manual, and investing in the cam and fuel pump lock down tools (about 100 some odd dollars) I was determined to do my own timing belt and water pump change out.

Keeping in mind it was something I never did before, I made sure to follow every step as outlined in the manuals. Familiarity breeds confidence and doing it that first time, I was not confident, so I was slow and sure. Bottom line: a pain in the butt. Everything is so tight. The front end must be jacked up to access the intercooler pipes from below as well as getting to the water pump. Locking the cam and fuel pump In place was not a big deal if you are careful of aligning the marks on your flywheel. Replacing the one time only torqued engine mount bolts that must come off the engine in order to remove the belt was a pain in the rear.
I did find the water pump was on it’s way to failure as a small trickle of engine coolant was weeping out the pump’s weep hole. The real white knuckle moments came when it came time to get the belt on and tension and torque the belt idler pulley. Boy, I sure barred that engine over multiple times after the belt was tensioned, partly in fear that the belt was going to walk over the pulleys (unfounded), partly due to my rookie fears and partly due to my disbelief that everything came together as the book recommended 🙂 A sigh of relief and a wipe of the brow ensued when I started the engine. Holy cow! No belt snapping, no pistons hitting valves. Just that lovely TDI clatter!

If you can get over these fears that I had, if you can stomach the laborious steps required to change a timing belt in this design, if you are somewhat mechanically inclined, YOU can do this job and save some good money in doing so. But that fear of screwing up and destroying your engine should not be taken lightly. It is not an IN and OUT one day thing for the shade tree mechanic. Figure starting on it early Friday and plan on a start up on Sunday. Take your time. And don’t forget the water pump and special VW coolant!

Well, I’m really, really late to this post, but the car I’d happily drive for the next 10 years would be a 2010-12 Mazda 6 station wagon, painted stormy blue. I had 2005 and 2008 6 wagons from new as company cars, both were very well-specced and practical, and loads of fun to drive. In 2009 I moved to another role in the company that came without a company car in 2009, so for the last 3 years I’ve been tripping around in my ’97 Nissan.

Last month though, one of the Mazda 6 company wagons, a 2010 2.0L GLX, was going to be unused for two months, so it was given to me to use (the perks of being a long-serving employee!). I’d forgotten how much fun to drive the 6 is – it’s exceptional for FWD! The seats are great (better than the ’05 or ’08 seats), the ride is fine, and everything inside is ergonomically perfect for 5′ 7″ me. The info display strip at the top of the dash with the HVAC-ICE-trip computer is perfectly placed for glancing at, the HVAC/ICE controls are simple and effective, and the steering wheels controls are perfect. It can be either an economical cruiser or a fun tiptronic sports wagon on windy back roads, so it’s my perfect (and practical) car for all moods.